Public Service Commission

To offer relief from the oppressive heat predicted for today and tomorrow, the Hugh Doyle Senior Center on 94 Davis Avenue will offer extended hours as a Cooling Center on Tuesday, July 17 and Wednesday, July 18 from 8 AM – 6 PM. The New Rochelle Public Library will also be open Tuesday from 9AM- 8PM and from Wednesday 10 AM-6PM.

When summer temperatures rise, residents are reminded to avoid strenuous activity, especially outdoors; dress in light color clothing; drink lots of water and eat light meals with fruits and vegetables. For further information on the Cooling Center, contact the Hugh Doyle Senior Center at 235-2363.

Lighting in the New Roc and Intermodal Transportation Center Parking garages will soon be replaced by LED lighting, a change that will greatly reduce the cost of energy to the City as well as maintenance.

With the new installation, energy use will be cut from about 1.9 million killowatt-hours to about 1.1 million killowatt hours, or about 60%. Futhermore, because LED lights are more durable and longer-lasting than traditional bulbs, maintenance and replacement needs will diminish. Annual energy cost savings are projected to be $160,000. Because the project is funded by a loan from the New York Power Authority, initial net savings will be reduced by the terms of the City’s loan repayment.

During years 1 through 7, the City can expect to save between $5,000 and $25,000 per year, depending on interest rates. For the remaining 20 year lifespan of the new lights, the City will receive the full financial benefit of reduced energy use. In all, taxpayers will save approximately $2 million.

Barbara Davis, City Historian and Community Relations Coordinator for the New Rochelle Public Library, found a copy of the 1966 Master Plan so I now have a complete set of Part 1 and Part 2. The headline may be a little confusing because the article is Part II but the Master Plan document I have today is Part 1. Once again, I took photos of every page and then cropped them and combined them into a PDF file.

I also received a scan copy of the 1929 Master Plan. I will create one post with all of the plans I have so far.

As our contract expiration approached late Saturday night, management asked the union leadership to agree to extend the contract for two weeks.

The union leadership refused.

Management then agreed not to lock union employees out without seven days notice as long as the union agreed not to strike without seven days notice.

The union leadership refused.

On Sunday night, management asked union leadership to allow our employees to return to work immediately with only 72 hours notice of a strike.

The union leadership refused.

These offers are still good.

Advance notice is important so that we can plan for the safe and reliable operation of our complex energy systems. Imagine if a crew working on an outage at your home or business suddenly picked up their tools and left. We owe it to you – our customers – to prepare for any work stoppage. If workers could walk off the job without warning, we would risk disruption to the system and to the reliable service we provide you, our customers.

We need to balance the demands of the union leadership with the needs of our customers.

Harry J. Farrell, President of Local 1-2, has announced as of 2 a.m. Sunday, July 1, 2012 Con Edison has locked out its workers who are members of Local 1-2, NY, Utility Workers Union of America.

Allan Drury, Public Affairs Manager for Con Ed, sent Talk of the Sound a document showing that Con Edison offered to continue the labor contract until July 14 while talks continued. The company’s representative, Mary Adamo, signed it. The union president declined.

COMPANY DRIVING WORKERS OFF THE CLIFF; CHAIRMAN KEVIN BURKE HAS HIS
MILLIONS, BUT FOR HIS WORKERS IT’S ALL TAKE, NO GIVE

With the summer’s second heat wave settling in this weekend Con Edison is scrambling to maintain power to its aging system while at the same time telling the 8,500 men and women who keep the lights on that they can shove it when it comes to a fair labor contract. Con Ed’s current contract with Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Union of America, expires at midnight June 30 and the Union’s membership has authorized a strike if contract talks fail.

Harry J. Farrell, President of Local 1-2, said, “Con Edison Chairman Kevin Burke is playing a dangerous game of chicken with the public and has a disaster in the making if he forces a work disruption and the system goes down. Burke’s managers just do not have the knowledge or expertise to keep the system operating if they force our hand. All we are seeking is a fair contract for our labor.”

With high heat and humidity, it's going to feel like the Devil's Anvil for the next two days in New Rochelle - be prepared!

Right on cue, summer will arrive with a heat wave expected to send temperatures into the high nineties. The City of New Rochelle, Westchester County and Con Edison have issued the following statements:

On Monday, June 18, summer service changes will go into effect on 10 Bee-Line bus routes.

For further details, visit the Bee-Line System website at www.westchestergov.com/beelinebus. You can also call county representatives on the Bee-Line Hotline at (914) 813-7777, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Automated information is also available 24 hours a day.

Route 1 - There will be eight additional northbound weekday evening trips departing from 242nd Street in the Bronx between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Route 2 - There will be two fewer northbound weekday evening trips departing from 242nd Street in the Bronx between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Routes 13, 75 and 91 - Service on Route 75 between the Rye Railroad Station and Playland will continue to operate on days that Playland is open to the public.

- Seasonal daily service to Playland on Routes13, 75 and 91 will start on Monday, June 18.